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History
Before
1958, the Macomb, IL community was served by three hospitals,
Marietta Phelps Hospital, Holmes Hospital, and largely by
St. Francis Hospital. St. Francis Hospital opened in 1903
and was run by the Sisters of St. Francis. The hospital was
very successful and was considered to be one of the best in
the state. In twenty-five years the hospital grew from the
original 25 beds to 100 beds.
In 1954,
the local community was polled by mail to determine the community's
choice of either spending $264,000 for a revision of St. Francis
Hospital, or spending $1,000,000 to build a new hospital.
The postal poll showed an overwhelming majority wanted a new
community hospital.
St. Francis
Hospital responded by announcing they would close their doors
in 18 months, but due to concern that a new hospital wouldn't
be able to serve the community for two more years, St. Francis
agreed to remain open and stayed open for another 10 years
after the new hospital opened.
On June
16, 1955, in the McDonough County Courthouse, Judge E.D. Grigsby
administered the oath of office to the nine people he had
selected to become directors of the proposed hospital district.
At this first meeting, the newly created Board of Directors
adopted ordinances to determine the district's fiscal and
corporate year and bylaws governing the McDonough County Hospital
District.
A ten-acre
site had been purchased for $20,000 from Mrs. Blanche Sears
on the southeast edge of Macomb. Financing of the project
was provided by a Federal Government Grant under the Hill-Burton
program for $506,000 and by the issuance of $1,680,000 in
general obligation bonds. The hospital's first administrator,
Earl G. Dresser, assumed his duties in June of 1956.
After
a full year of planning and preliminary activities, groundbreaking
ceremonies for the proposed facility were held on June 30,
1956. Of the hospital's 104 beds, 16 were in obstetrics, 8
in pediatrics, and 80 in the medical and surgical units (47
double and 10 private rooms).
On June
6, 1957, there was a cornerstone laying for the new hospital.
The stone itself was made of Indiana limestone and inside
were placed items of historical interest. Also in this month,
with 140 women present, the first hospital Auxiliary meeting
was held.
On June
30, 1958, exactly two years from its ground breaking ceremony,
McDonough District Hospital opened its doors.
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